Chapter 124 Observation Diary: Meow Meow Mimi Merchandise Extravaganza
One week later, on Saturday afternoon.
Lin Yao did not come alone this time.
She brought along a young man wearing black-rimmed glasses and carrying a backpack, who introduced himself as Chen Yu, a senior from the research institute she collaborated with, specializing in pet nutrition. He said he had heard that the farm had independently developed pet food and came specifically to exchange ideas and learn from him.
Jin Dian was quite familiar with the route. As soon as he got out of the car, he looked longingly in the direction of the activity room. But this time he didn't rush in. Instead, he first rubbed against Lin Yao's leg, then politely meowed at Chen Yu, before walking gracefully into the farm.
His posture suggested that he had already considered himself a member of the farm.
Although I am not a formal staff member, I am still one of them.
Chen Yu was clearly amazed by the farm's environment.
He pushed up his glasses, looked at the neat rows of fields, the modern greenhouse, and the cats wandering and lying around, and murmured, "This is not quite the farm I imagined."
“I had the same reaction the first time I came here,” Lin Yao said with a smile. “Come on, I’ll take you to meet the ‘natives’ here.”
Inside the activity room, Tangyuan had already struck a farmer's pose, perched on the highest cat tree, calmly watching the newcomer with her heterochromatic eyes.
Rou Rou was lying on her side by the window, with four kittens playing around her.
The mountain breeze stood guard at the door, sitting upright.
Chen Yu was stunned when he saw Tangyuan. "A Linqing lion cat? This is amazing. I haven't seen such a perfect lion cat in a long time."
He was also taken aback when he saw Rou Rou. "Is this a Siberian Forest Cat? It's rare to see such a uniform silver-gray coat."
Upon seeing Shanfeng, I couldn't wait to go up and examine her closely, even petting her. "This German Shepherd's sitting posture must be highly trained, right? So handsome!"
Their professional insight is quite sharp.
Shi Wan smiled and watched for a while before going up to him. "Mr. Chen has good taste. Shanfeng used to be a military dog. After retiring, she was adopted by our farm along with her owner."
Chen Yu nodded, his gaze quickly drawn to the cats yawning in the corner cat house. "These cats are in great spirits, with shiny fur and clear eyes. They are very well cared for. Your farm truly lives up to its reputation; it's amazing."
As he spoke, he immediately pulled out a small notebook from his backpack and began to take notes. His earnest demeanor reminded Shi Wan of the top students in college who would go straight to the study room after leaving the library.
Lin Yao had already squatted down next to Rou Rou. She took out a tablet from her bag and said in a very gentle voice, "Rou Rou baby, look over here~"
She opened the drawing software and brought up a new strip comic strip.
This time, the title is "Meow Meow Observation Diary".
The first scene shows Tangyuan squatting majestically on a high place, with a group of cats looking up at him below, accompanied by the caption "Morning meeting begins, the senior gives a speech."
The second scene shows Tangyuan patting the head of a kitten that stole cat food with its paw, accompanied by the caption "Fine: three dried fish."
The third scene shows the mountain wind patrolling by, and all the cats immediately sit up straight, accompanied by the caption, "The instructor is here, quickly act well."
The fourth scene depicts nightfall, with Tangyuan checking each cat's sleeping position one by one, covering the cats that have kicked off their blankets again, accompanied by the caption "Senior's midnight room check."
The art style remains adorable, but the details reveal a precise observation of cat behavior.
The angle at which the cats' ears turn during meetings, their guilty little expressions when being scolded, and their instantly docile posture when they see the mountain wind are all vividly depicted.
The succulents stared intently, while the little speckled creature stretched out its tiny paws, trying to touch the screen.
Jin Dian then sidled up to them, staring longingly at the tablet.
Lin Yao smiled and turned to the next page, which was a special bonus chapter drawn for Jin Dian.
Leopard Cat's Family Visit Diary, Part 2
The first scene shows Golden Dot staring at the calendar at home, scratching at the Saturday page with its paws, accompanied by the words, "Five days left... four days left... three days left..."
The second panel shows Jin Dian trying to sneak out, but Lin Yao grabs him by the scruff of the neck and pulls him back, with the caption "No unauthorized escape!"
The third panel shows Saturday finally arriving. Jin Dian is sitting in the car, radiating a pink aura that screams "I'm going to see my wife and kids!" The caption reads, "Go for it!"
The fourth frame shows Jin Dian lying on the ground letting the kitten rub against her after seeing Rou Rou and the kitten, with the caption "Perfect life.jpg".
"Meow!" Jin Dian protested when she saw how silly she was drawn, but her eyes were bright and she kept glancing at Rou Rou's expression, clearly she liked it very much.
Chen Yu leaned over to take a look, adjusted his glasses, and said, "From a behavioral perspective, this leopard cat does indeed exhibit a strong tendency towards family attachment. The data on its hormone levels before and after each visit to the farm must be quite interesting..."
As he spoke, he looked at his notebook and fell into deep thought.
Lin Yao, unfazed, patted Jin Dian's head.
Not long after, Chen Yu came to his senses and looked at Shi Wan. "Ms. Shi, I have a favor to ask. Could you please collect some data on the daily behavior of the farm animals? I mean, could you install a few cameras that won't interfere with their activities and record their natural behavior patterns?"
Shi Wan thought for a moment and looked at Tangyuan.
Tangyuan jumped down from the cat tree, walked up to Chen Yu, looked up at him, and blinked her heterochromatic eyes.
Chen Yu squatted down and earnestly discussed with him, "I'm here to learn. I won't hurt you, and I won't get too close to you or affect your lives, okay?"
Tangyuan stared at him for a few seconds, then meowed and turned to look at Shi Wan.
Shi Wan, the translator, said, "Tangyuan said it's okay, but the camera can't film you taking a shower or going to the toilet."
A speechless expression appeared on Chen Yu's usually calm and collected academic face. "...That's definitely not true."
Lin Yao laughed so hard she couldn't stand up straight, "Senior, you're actually negotiating with a cat?"
“Animals also have the right to privacy, and small animals can understand what we are saying. They have their own thoughts, and I would never treat them as mindless wild beasts,” Chen Yu said seriously. “Moreover, respecting the research subjects is a basic principle.”
Lin Yao shrugged, "Okay, okay, I know, senior, please stop nagging me, it really gives me a headache. I'm going to draw!"
For the next two hours, Chen Yu demonstrated what professionalism truly means.
He carefully installed miniature cameras in several corners of the cat villa, choosing locations that were extremely strategic, covering the main activity areas without directly shining on the cats' private resting corners.
All the equipment was disguised with a wood-grain finish to blend in with the environment.
During the installation, the cats curiously gathered around to watch.
A calico cat tried to paw at the camera, but Tangyuan gently swatted it away with her tail and told her not to cause trouble.
Sanhua meowed and obediently retreated to the side, looking aggrieved.
Chen Yu paused, as if he had discovered a new continent, "These cats are very disciplined."
“That’s because Tangyuan taught us well,” Shi Wan said proudly. “Tangyuan is the head of our farm.”
After installation, Chen Yu took out a few more small devices. "This is a portable environmental monitor that can record changes in temperature, humidity, and light. This is a sound collector that can analyze the frequency and patterns of animal calls..."
He explained as he adjusted the equipment, and his focused expression reminded Shi Wan of the top students in college whose eyes would light up when they looked at experimental data.
Lin Yao couldn't wait to drag Shi Wan to see the samples of her newly designed merchandise.
"The keychain samples are ready. I specifically chose the expedited option. Take a look at the quality first." She took out several samples from her bag and placed them in front of Shi Wan.
The Q-version glutinous rice ball keychain is only the size of a thumb, but the heterochromatic eyes are made with a special process to create a glass-like texture, which really refracts different colors under light.
The chubby keychain's silver-gray fur uses gradient spray paint, giving it a slightly velvety feel.
The gold-dot leopard print is three-dimensional, and it will bounce back slightly when poked.
The most amazing thing is the four kitten set, which can be bought individually or as a "family portrait" rotating pendant. With a gentle spin, the four kittens will circle around the chubby center.
"This is so cute!" Shi Wan fell in love with it at first sight and tried to keep the sample for herself. "Wouldn't the cost be too high?"
“Mass production can be controlled, but I think people who buy merchandise still want to get high-quality items, even if they are a little more expensive, it’s better than spending money on some junk,” Lin Yao suggested, resting her chin on her hand. This was also her true opinion as a long-time anime fan.
She herself would rather spend a little more money to buy some high-quality merchandise, and she would buy two sets, one to display and one to keep as a collection.
whee.
"And most importantly, it's about market response. I did some data analysis on the short comic strip yesterday, and guess which one was mentioned the most and was the most popular?"
"Tangyuan?" Shi Wan suggested without hesitation.
“No no~” Lin Yao smiled slyly, “It’s the Golden Point, and it’s the number one spot by a wide margin. Netizens say, ‘Who can resist a leopard cat that’s humbled to the dust just to see its wife and children?’”
Shi Wan: ...
Netizens' tastes are truly unpredictable.
“So I think we should make a batch of high-quality products to test the waters first.” Lin Yao opened the proposal on the tablet. “I’ve also contacted a vendor to make a sample for the packaging design. Anyway, the pictures they sent look pretty good. You must have a manufacturer you’ve been working with all along. Just produce according to the standard.”
She took out the product photos the merchant had sent her from her tablet.
There were quite a few communications and reworks involved, and even expedited processing couldn't get the actual product, so Lin Yao first asked for real photos for Shi Wan's reference.
The cat food trial pack comes in a refreshing light green package. The front features a serious-looking face of a cat named Tangyuan and the words "Certified by This Cat," while the back contains the nutritional information and feeding suggestions.
The cutest part is that the seal is also shaped like a dried fish, and it really makes a crisp "crack" sound when you tear it open.
“This design is to increase the sense of ritual when opening the bag,” Lin Yao explained. “I’ve observed that many cats will rush over when they hear the sound of the bag being opened, so I incorporated that sound into the packaging.”
Curious, Shi Wan clicked on the video and, sure enough, heard the bag make a crisp "crack" sound as the person in the video moved.
The ears of all the cats in the activity room instantly turned this way.
Tangyuan was the first to rush over, squatting down in front of Shi Wan as if she wanted to cling to her and climb all over her, her big eyes searching everywhere for the source of the sound.
The chubby creature raised its head, and even the golden specks outside the window seemed to perk up their ears.
Shi Wan was both amused and exasperated, spreading her hands out, "You misheard, there's no good food."
Tangyuan sniffed carefully, then, unwilling to give up, continued to poke at Shi Wan, trying to get some treats.
Unable to resist their pestering, Shi Wan had no choice but to take out a jar of freeze-dried chicken from a nearby cabinet and share it with them.
Fortunately, her family produces these products, so Shi Wan placed a can of freeze-dried food in every corner she could reach, making it convenient to feed the cat anytime.
The meat was eaten rather elegantly, but at a fast pace.
Jin Dian, watching anxiously from outside, gently tugged at the window.
Lin Yao laughed heartily, opened the side window and handed out a few, saying, "Here you go, here you go."
Golden Point carefully took it with its paws, then squatted on the windowsill and began to eat, its ears twitching with pleasure.
Chen Yu watched for a long time, then carefully took notes.
Shi Wan was very curious about what he was writing down.
However, since they weren't very familiar with each other yet, she didn't say anything.
As evening approached, Lin Yao and Chen Yu prepared to leave.
This time, Jin Dian wasn't as reluctant to leave as last time, probably because he knew he could come back next week. He mustered up his courage and carefully nuzzled the chubby cheeks of the kittens, then licked the heads of the four kittens one by one before finally walking towards the SUV.
Before getting on the bus, he looked back one last time.
By the window, Rou Rou was squatting there, while Xiao Dianban was meowing loudly, clinging to the windowsill.
Tangyuan squatted down next to Rourou and gently meowed in the direction of Jindian.
Jin Dian responded with a "meow" and then jumped into the car.
Lin Yao waved to Shi Wan, "Then I'll bring the first batch of samples over next week!"
Chen Yu adjusted his glasses and said succinctly, "The surveillance system isn't connected to the network; it uses a memory card. Could you please export the videos every week? You can cut out any confidential content. Just send the videos to Lin Yao, and she'll send them to me."
"Okay, be careful on the road."
The car drove away.
Shi Wan returned to the main house and had just sat down on the sofa when Tangyuan jumped into her arms. "Wanwan, is our farm even more amazing today?"
“Yes.” Shi Wan rubbed his head. “We have new friends and new collaborations.”
She looked out the window at the gradually darkening sky, the cat-head bracelet on her wrist gleaming warmly in the twilight.
The farm was bustling today. New friends visited, new plans were launched, and everything was moving in a positive direction.
only……
In the distance, within the data space, the silvery-white halo of the stars rippled slightly.
He sensed Shi Wan's thoughts, the liveliness of the farm, and the flow of warm emotions.
Perhaps soon.
Once he has completed those minor adjustments and his consciousness has fully returned, he can go back to see her.
He will tell her something he has kept in his heart for a long time.
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